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(No Model.)

P. W. TOBEY.

N PETERS. Phalo-Lrflwgnphur. Washinglon. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Critics. I

FRED W. TOBEY, OF VVAIERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO WILLIAM F. LEWIS, OF SAME'PLACE.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,762, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed July 5, 1887. Serial No. 243,310. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED W. TOBEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to produce at slight expense a clasp adapted to all general uses, that will clasp and unclasp quickly without special manipulation with the fingers, will hold light or heavy material firmly, and will not tear fine light stockings, as the fold to be engaged does not have to be drawn in.

With these ends in viewl have devised the simple and novel construction of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, num-' bers being used to denote the several parts.

Figure 1 is a view illustrating my improved.

clasp as applied to a horse-blanket; Fig. 2, a view upon an enlarged scale, illustrating a single clasp in the disengaged position; Fig. 3, a similar view illustrating the clasp in the engaged position; and Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a clasp in which the details of construc tion are slightly changed, and showing it as applied to a stocking-supporter.

1 denotes arms, which are preferably struck out from sheet metal, and are all made alike. Each arm is provided at one end with an enlargement, 2, and a hole to receive a pivot, 3. The arms are so formed that after they are pivoted together both arms of each pair curve inward toward each other just above the pivotal point, forming holding-surfaces 4, which may or may not be provided with teeth 5. Above the holding-surfaces the arms curve outward from each other, and may or may not be provided with notches 6, which serve to lock the clasp in the engaged position. Each clasp consists of two members, a pair of arms pivoted together, as shown, constituting one member, and a crosspiece, 7, having at its ends eyes 8, through which the respective arms pass, constituting the other member. The cross piece may be made in any suitable When my improved clasp is to be applied to a horseblanket or similar article, I preferably make the cross-piece of sheet metal and secure it in place by riveting, or in any suitable manner. When it isto be used upon 'a stocking-supporter, I preferably pass the end of the textile strip around the cross-piece and secure it by eyeleting or stitching, both forms being shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noticed, as in Fig. 3 and at the right in Fig. 4, that the arms are made sufficiently long so that they can under no circumstances pass out from the eyes, thus insuring that thetwo members of the catch shall not become separated. The operation is so simple as to hardly require explanation.

Suppose the parts to be in the engaging position, as in Fig. 3 and at the right in Fig. 4. To disengage the parts the arms are pressed up or the crosspiece pressed down, as in Fig. 2 and at the left in Fig. 4, which allows the fold of the garment to slip out readily. To engage a fold of a stocking or other garment it is simply required to place it between the engaging-surfaces, when in the position shown in Fig. 2 and at the left in Fig. 4, and then draw up the cross-piece to the position shown in Fig. 3 and at the right in Fig. 4. This draws the two arms together and clamps the fold of garment firmly between the holdingsurfaces. When used upon stocking and drawers supporters, I preferably use the locking-notches, as in Fig. 4. The operation when applied to a horse-blanket is precisely the same as upon a stocking supporter. be noticed that special manipulation with the fingers, either in fastening or unfastening,'is wholly dispensed with, which is a great advantage in all uses to which clasps are applied,

the sole movement in unfastening being to press the two members toward each other and in fastening to draw them away from each other.

I wish my claim to be understood asextend- It will ing to such variations in construction as propvided with eyes loosely surrounding said arms, 10 erly fall within the spirit of my invention and through which the latter may pass out laterthe claim hereinafter made. 1 ally, substantially as set forth.

I claim- I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in A garment-clasp consisting of the outward] yl presence of two witnesses. curved arms pivoted to each other at their FRED W. TOBEY. lower ends and having thegrasping-jaws, in combination with a stationary plate adapted to be secured to a strap or garment and pro- Witnesses: W. B. PRITOHARD,

J. B. STUART. v 

